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Introduction: According to the Portuguese clinical guidelines published in 1999, patients with traumatic brain injury and coagulopathies should remain in-hospital for 24 hours for clinical and image surveillance, despite having an admission computed tomography (CT) scan showing no intracranial lesions. Growing evidence suggests this practice is not only void of clinical relevance, but that it can also be potentially harmful for the patient. Nevertheless, up until now there is no published data concerning the economic impact of this clinical practice. Methods: A cost analysis compared retrospective data from patients admitted to our emergency department during 2022 with a hypothetical scenario in which a patient with an admission CT scan without traumatic lesions was discharged. Clinical data was also retrieved concerning the rate of a delayed intracranial bleeding on 24-hour CT scan and mortality at a six-month-period after discharge. Direct costs for the national health service were determined in terms of funding and time invested by medical teams. Results: From a sample of 440 patients, 436 remained in-hospital for a 24-hour clinical and image surveillance, of which only two (0.5%) showed a new intracranial lesion on the second CT-scan. Neither of these two patients required therapeutic measures to control bleeding and were discharged 36 hours after admission. Out of 440 patients, one patient (0.2%) died of cardiac arrest during the 24-hour surveillance period, despite having an initial normal CT scan showing no brain lesions. Our current surveillance practice directly amounted to €163 157.00, whereas the cost of our hypothetical scenario amounted to €29 480.00: a difference of €133 677.00. The application of our surveillance guideline also meant that nine emergency shifts were devoted to this task, compared to 4.6 hypothetical shifts if patients were discharged after an initial CT scan without traumatic intracranial lesions. Conclusion: In spite of apparently not adding any clinical value to our practice, our in-hospital surveillance may represent a significant financial and time-consuming burden, costing five times as much and demanding our medical teams twice as much work when compared to a scenario without clinical surveillance and 24-hour CT scans.

Abstract Background Gutta-percha (GP) combined with an endodontic sealer is still the core material most widely used for tridimensional obturation. The sealer acts as a bonding agent between the GP and the root dentinal walls. However, one of the main drawbacks of GP core material is the lack of adhesiveness to the sealer. ZnO thin films have many remarkable features due to their considerable bond strength, good optical quality, and excellent piezoelectric, antibacterial, and antifungal properties, offering many potential applications in various fields. This study aimed to explore the influence of GP surface’s functionalization with a nanostructured ZnO thin film on its adhesiveness to endodontic sealers. Methods Conventional GP samples were divided randomly into three groups: (a) Untreated GP (control); (b) GP treated with argon plasma (PT); (c) Functionalized GP (PT followed by ZnO thin film deposition). GP’s surface functionalization encompassed a multi-step process. First, a low-pressure argon PT was applied to modify the GP surface, followed by a ZnO thin film deposition via magnetron sputtering. The surface morphology was assessed using SEM and water contact angle analysis. Further comprehensive testing included tensile bond strength assessment evaluating Endoresin and AH Plus Bioceramic sealers’ adhesion to GP. ANOVA procedures were used for data statistical analysis. Results The ZnO thin film reproduced the underlying surface topography produced by PT. ZnO thin film deposition decreased the water contact angle compared to the control (p

This study aimed to investigate the degradation of dry biopotential electrodes using the anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) technique. The electrodes were based on Ti-Cu thin films deposited on different polymeric substrates (polyurethane, polylactic acid, and cellulose) by Direct Current (DC) magnetron sputtering. TiCu0.34 thin films (chemical composition of 25.4 at.% Cu and 74.6 at.% Ti) were prepared by sputtering a composite Ti target. For comparison purposes, a Cu-pure thin film was prepared under the same conditions and used as a reference. Both films exhibited dense microstructures with differences in surface topography and crystalline structure. The degradation process involved immersing TiCu0.34 and Cu-pure thin films in artificial sweat (prepared following the ISO standard 3160-2) for different durations (1 h, 4 h, 24 h, 168 h, and 240 h). ASV was the technique selected to quantify the amount of Cu(II) released by the electrodes immersed in the sweat solution. The optimal analysis conditions were set for 120 s and −1.0 V for time deposition and potential deposition, respectively, with a quantification limit of 0.050 ppm and a detection limit of 0.016 ppm. The results showed that TiCu0.34 electrodes on polyurethane substrates were significantly more reliable over time compared to Cu-pure electrodes. After 240 h of immersion, the TiCu0.34 electrodes released a maximum of 0.06 ppm Cu, while Cu-pure electrodes released 16 ppm. The results showed the significant impact of the substrate on the electrode’s longevity, with cellulose bases performing poorly. TiCu0.34 thin films on cellulose released 1.15 µg/cm2 of copper after 240 h, compared to 1.12 mg/cm2 from Cu-pure films deposited on the same substrate. Optical microscopy revealed that electrodes based on polylactic acid substrates were more prone to corrosion over time, whereas TiCu thin-film metallic glass-like structures on PU substrates showed extended lifespan. This study underscored the importance of assessing the degradation of dry biopotential electrodes for e-health applications, contributing to developing more durable and reliable sensing devices. While the study simulated real-world conditions using artificial sweat, it did not involve in vivo measurements.

Enquadramento: A cirurgia abdominal alta está associada a alta incidência de complicações pulmonares. A técnica breath stacking (BS) perspetiva-se como recurso com potencial terapêutico para a enfermagem de reabilitação. Objetivo: Avaliar a eficácia da técnica BS na melhoria da função respiratória. Metodologia: Estudo quasi-experimental com 36 mulheres submetidas a cirurgia bariátrica, distribuídas pelos grupos de controlo (GC) e intervenção (GI). Foram avaliadas no pré e pós-operatório as medidas capacidade vital forçada (CVF), volume expiratório forçado no primeiro segundo (VEF1), pressão inspiratória máxima (PIm), pressão expiratória máxima (PEm), saturação periférica de oxigénio (SpO2) e frequência respiratória (FR). Foi aplicada a técnica BS no GI no pré e pós-operatório. Recorreu-se à análise estatística descritiva e inferencial. Resultados: Observaram-se diferenças estatisticamente significativas pós-operatórias, entre o GC e o GI, na CVF ( -20,29 vs. -13,60), VEF1 (-23,05 vs. -13,38), PIm (-22,96 vs. -14,93), PEm (-14,10 vs -10,32) e FR (12,29 vs 6,45). Conclusão: A técnica de BS permitiu melhorar a função respiratória do GI e reverter as alterações previsíveis no pós-operatório de cirurgia bariátrica.

Abstract Gutta-percha’s lack of adhesion has been presented as a drawback to avoid gaps at sealer/gutta-percha interface. Plasma treatments have been scarcely assessed on gutta-percha surfaces as a method of enhancing adhesiveness. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of low-pressure Argon and Oxygen plasma atmospheres on conventional and bioceramic gutta-percha standardized smooth discs, assessing their roughness, surface free energy, chemical structure, and sealer wettability. A Low-Pressure Plasma Cleaner by Diener Electronic (Zepto Model) was used. Different gases (Argon or Oxygen), powers (25 W, or 50 W), and exposure times (30 s, 60 s, 120 s, or 180 s) were tested in control and experimental groups. Kruskal–Wallis and Student's t-test were used in data analysis. Statistically significant differences were detected when P

This work reports on the surface functionalization of a nanomaterial supporting localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs) with (synthetic) thiolated oligonucleotide-based biorecognition elements, envisaging the development of selective LSPR-based DNA biosensors. The LSPR thin-film transducers are composed of noble metal nanoparticles (NPs) embedded in a TiO2 dielectric matrix, produced cost-effectively and sustainably by magnetron sputtering. The study focused on the immobilization kinetics of thiolated oligonucleotide probes as biorecognition elements, followed by the evaluation of hybridization events with the target probe. The interaction between the thiolated oligonucleotide probe and the transducer’s surface was assessed by monitoring the LSPR signal with successive additions of probe solution through a microfluidic device. The device was specifically designed and fabricated for this work and adapted to a high-resolution LSPR spectroscopy system with portable characteristics. Benefiting from the synergetic characteristics of Ag and Au in the form of bimetallic nanoparticles, the Au-Ag/TiO2 thin film proved to be more sensitive to thiolated oligonucleotide binding events. Despite the successful surface functionalization with the biorecognition element, the detection of complementary oligonucleotides revealed electrostatic repulsion and steric hindrance, which hindered hybridization with the target oligonucleotide. This study points to an effect that is still poorly described in the literature and affects the design of LSPR biosensors based on nanoplasmonic thin films.

The extinction efficiency of noble metal nanoparticles (NPs), namely gold (Au) and silver (Ag), are dependent on their size and surrounding dielectric. Exploiting the Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR) phenomenon, the composition and structure of the NPs might be tailored to achieve a configuration that optimizes their response (sensitivity) to environmental changes. This can be done by preparing a bimetallic system, benefiting from the chemical stability of Au NPs and the higher scattering efficiency of Ag NPs. To enhance the LSPR sensing robustness, incorporating solid supports in the form of nanocomposite thin films is a suitable alternative. In this context, the NPs composed of gold (Au), silver (Ag), and their mixture in bimetallic Au-Ag NPs, were grown in a titanium dioxide (TiO2) matrix using reactive DC magnetron sputtering. Thermal treatment at different temperatures (up to 700 °C) tuned the LSPR response of the films and, consequently, their sensitivity. Notably, the bimetallic film with Au/Ag atomic ratio 1 exhibited the highest refractive index sensitivity (RIS), with a value of 181 nm/RIU, almost one order of magnitude higher than monometallic Au-TiO2. The nanostructural analysis revealed a wide NP size distribution of bimetallic NPs with an average size of 31 nm, covering about 20% of the overall surface area. These findings underscore the significant potential of bimetallic film systems, namely AuAg-TiO2, in LSPR sensing enhancement.

This study aims to evaluate the lifespan of Ti-Ag dry electrodes prepared using flexible polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) substrates. Following previous studies, the electrodes were designed to be integrated into wearables for remote electromyography (EMG) monitoring and electrical stimulation (FES) therapy. Four types of Ti-Ag electrodes were prepared by DC magnetron sputtering, using a pure-Ti target doped with a growing number of Ag pellets. After extensive characterization of their chemical composition and (micro)structural evolution, the Ti-Ag electrodes were immersed in an artificial sweat solution (standard ISO-3160-2) at 37 °C with constant stirring. Results revealed that all the Ti-Ag electrodes maintained their integrity and functionality for 24 h. Although there was a notable increase in electrical resistivity beyond this timeframe, the acquisition and transmission of (bio)signals remained viable for electrodes with Ag/Ti ratios below 0.23. However, electrodes with higher Ag content (Ag/Ti = 0.31) became insulators after 7 days of immersion due to excessive Ag release into the sweat solution. This study concludes that higher Ag/Ti atomic ratios result in heightened corrosion processes on the electrode’s surface, consequently diminishing their lifespan despite the advantages of incorporating Ag into their composition. This research highlights the critical importance of evaluating electrode longevity, especially in remote biomedical applications like smart wearables, where electrode performance over time is crucial for reliable and sustained monitoring and stimulation.

Thermoelectric phenomena, such as the Anomalous Nernst and Longitudinal Spin Seebeck Effects, are promising for sensor applications in the area of renewable energy. In the case of flexible electronic materials, the request is even larger because they can be integrated into devices having complex shape surfaces. Here, we reveal that Pt promotes an enhancement of the thermoelectric response in Co-rich ribbon/Pt heterostructures due to the spin-to-charge conversion. Moreover, we demonstrated that the employment of the thermopiles configuration in this system increases the induced thermoelectric current, a fact related to the considerable decrease in the electric resistance of the system. By comparing present findings with the literature, we were able to design a flexible thermopile based on LSSE without the lithography process. Additionally, the thermoelectric voltage found in the studied flexible heterostructures is comparable to the ones verified for rigid systems.

This investigation aimed to assess, through a systematic review, the effect of non-thermal plasma treatments on root canal sealers’ adhesion to dentin. This study followed the 2020 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A literature search was undertaken without limits on time or language, until May 2023, in PubMed–MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, OpenGrey, and three endodontic journals. The included studies underwent quality assessment and data extraction. Out of an initial 188 articles, 4 studies were included. Three of these studies based the adhesion ability on the push-out test in human extracted teeth, while the other used bovine dentin samples to measure the contact angle with the sealer (wettability). While there was no consensus about the effect of non-thermal plasma (NTP) on the AH Plus sealer’s adhesion to radicular dentin, NTP seemed to positively influence the adhesion ability of BioRoot RCS and Endosequence BC. The findings of the present review should be interpreted cautiously due to the scarcity of studies on the topic. The NTP parameters should be optimized to obtain a stronger evidence base in endodontics on its role as an adjuvant tool to increase sealers’ adhesion to dentin.

Currently, there is an increasing need to develop highly sensitive plasmonic sensors able to provide good biocompatibility, flexibility, and optical stability to detect low levels of analytes in biological media. In this study, gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) were dispersed into chitosan membranes by spin coating. It has been demonstrated that these membranes are particularly stable and can be successfully employed as versatile plasmonic platforms for molecular sensing. The optical response of the chitosan/Au NPs interfaces and their capability to sense the medium’s refractive index (RI) changes, either in a liquid or gas media, were investigated by high-resolution localized surface plasmon resonance (HR-LSPR) spectroscopy, as a proof of concept for biosensing applications. The results revealed that the lowest polymer concentration (chitosan (0.5%)/Au-NPs membrane) presented the most suitable plasmonic response. An LSPR band redshift was observed as the RI of the surrounding media was incremented, resulting in a sensitivity value of 28 ± 1 nm/RIU. Furthermore, the plasmonic membrane showed an outstanding performance when tested in gaseous atmospheres, being capable of distinguishing inert gases with only a 10−5 RI unit difference. The potential of chitosan/Au-NPs membranes was confirmed for application in LSPR-based sensing applications, despite the fact that further materials optimization should be performed to enhance sensitivity.

Titanium-copper alloy films with stoichiometry given by Ti1−xCux were produced by magnetron co-sputtering technique and analyzed in order to explore the suitability of the films to be applied as resistive temperature sensors with antimicrobial properties. For that, the copper (Cu) amount in the films was varied by applying different DC currents to the source during the deposition in order to change the Cu concentration. As a result, the samples showed excellent thermoresistivity linearity and stability for temperatures in the range between room temperature to 110 °C. The sample concentration of Ti0.70Cu0.30 has better characteristics to act as RTD, especially the αTCR of 1990 ×10−6°C−1. The antimicrobial properties of the Ti1−xCux films were analyzed by exposing the films to the bacterias S. aureus and E. coli, and comparing them with bare Ti and Cu films that underwent the same protocol. The Ti1−xCux thin films showed bactericidal effects, by log10 reduction for both bacteria, irrespective of the Cu concentrations. As a test of concept, the selected sample was subjected to 160 h reacting to variations in ambient temperature, presenting results similar to a commercial temperature sensor. Therefore, these Ti1−xCux thin films become excellent antimicrobial candidates to act as temperature sensors in advanced coating systems.

In this study, thin films composed of gold nanoparticles embedded in a copper oxide matrix (Au:CuO), manifesting Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR) behavior, were produced by reactive DC magnetron sputtering and post-deposition in-air annealing. The effect of low-power Ar plasma etching on the surface properties of the plasmonic thin films was studied, envisaging its optimization as gas sensors. Thus, this work pretends to attain the maximum sensing response of the thin film system and to demonstrate its potential as a gas sensor. The results show that as Ar plasma treatment time increases, the host CuO matrix is etched while Au nanoparticles are uncovered, which leads to an enhancement of the sensitivity until a certain limit. Above such a time limit for plasma treatment, the CuO bonds are broken, and oxygen is removed from the film’s surface, resulting in a decrease in the gas sensing capabilities. Hence, the importance of the host matrix for the design of the LSPR sensor is also demonstrated. CuO not only provides stability and protection to the Au NPs but also promotes interactions between the thin film’s surface and the tested gases, thereby improving the nanocomposite film’s sensitivity. The optimized sensor sensitivity was estimated at 849 nm/RIU, which demonstrates that the Au-CuO thin films have the potential to be used as an LSPR platform for gas sensors.

A reprovação e evasão nas disciplinas de Cálculo nos cursos de graduação vem sendo objeto de pesquisa nas últimas décadas. Nas diferentes instituições de Ensino superior (IES) onde foram coletados dados para as pesquisas do grupo Transição do Projeto Fundão-UFRJ, estas disciplinas apresentam taxas de reprovação e evasão elevadas. Nossos resultados, em consonância com aqueles encontrados na literatura, indicam que o cerne da questão está no ensino e na aprendizagem de funções, pré-requisito básico para a aprendizagem de Cálculo. Neste sentido, ao longo dos últimos nove anos, o grupo Transição vem buscando novas opções didáticas que possibilitem de alguma forma contribuir para minimizar as dificuldades da aprendizagem de funções e, assim, reduzir as taxas de reprovação e evasão nas turmas de Cálculo. O Método de Ensino por Meio da Resolução de Problemas (MERP) consiste em uma sugestão didática e metodológica elaborada pelo grupo Transição para o ensino de Matemática, mais especificamente, para o ensino de funções. Este método é sustentado por três pilares teóricos/metodológicos: o ensino por meio da Resolução de Problemas, o estudo das Representações Semióticas e a utilização do GeoGebra como ferramenta de Ensino. Neste artigo problematizaremos a aprendizagem de Cálculo e discutiremos a utilização do MERP.

Thin films containing metal (gold, silver, etc.) nanoparticles are important platforms for molecular sensing based on the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) phenomenon. To support their use in high-resolution LSPR spectroscopy systems, a software package, called NANOPTICS, was developed. It performs a statistical analysis of the LSPR band of the films, employing central moments of the normalized spectral distribution of optical transmittance. LSPR band parameters, signal-to-noise ratio and refractive index sensitivity are the outputs. It is shown that NANOPTICS can be a powerful tool to perform fast diagnostics of LSPR-based sensors’ sensitivity and to analyse their response to target analytes.

Optical biosensors based on localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) are the future of label-free detection methods. This work reports the development of plasmonic thin films, containing Au nanoparticles dispersed in a TiO2 matrix, as platforms for LSPR biosensors. Post-deposition treatments were employed, namely annealing at 400 °C, to develop an LSPR band, and Ar plasma, to improve the sensitivity of the Au-TiO2 thin film. Streptavidin and biotin conjugated with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) were chosen as the model receptor–analyte, to prove the efficiency of the immobilization method and to demonstrate the potential of the LSPR-based biosensor. The Au-TiO2 thin films were activated with O2 plasma, to promote the streptavidin immobilization as a biorecognition element, by increasing the surface hydrophilicity (contact angle drop to 7°). The interaction between biotin and the immobilized streptavidin was confirmed by the detection of HRP activity (average absorbance 1.9 ± 0.6), following a protocol based on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Furthermore, an LSPR wavelength shift was detectable (0.8 ± 0.1 nm), resulting from a plasmonic thin-film platform with a refractive index sensitivity estimated to be 33 nm/RIU. The detection of the analyte using these two different methods proves that the functionalization protocol was successful and the Au-TiO2 thin films have the potential to be used as an LSPR platform for label-free biosensors.

In a new era for digital health, dry electrodes for biopotential measurement enable the monitoring of essential vital functions outside of specialized healthcare centers. In this paper, a new type of nanostructured titanium-based thin film is proposed, revealing improved biopotential sensing performance and overcoming several of the limitations of conventional gel-based electrodes such as reusability, durability, biocompatibility, and comfort. The thin films were deposited on stainless steel (SS) discs and polyurethane (PU) substrates to be used as dry electrodes, for non-invasive monitoring of body surface biopotentials. Four different Ti–Me (Me = Al, Cu, Ag, or Au) metallic binary systems were prepared by magnetron sputtering. The morphology of the resulting Ti–Me systems was found to be dependent on the chemical composition of the films, specifically on the type and amount of Me. The existence of crystalline intermetallic phases or glassy amorphous structures also revealed a strong influence on the morphological features developed by the different systems. The electrodes were tested in an in-vivo study on 20 volunteers during sports activity, allowing study of the application-specific characteristics of the dry electrodes, based on Ti–Me intermetallic thin films, and evaluation of the impact of the electrode–skin impedance on biopotential sensing. The electrode–skin impedance results support the reusability and the high degree of reliability of the Ti–Me dry electrodes. The Ti–Al films revealed the least performance as biopotential electrodes, while the Ti–Au system provided excellent results very close to the Ag/AgCl reference electrodes.

We investigated the magnetization dynamics through the magnetoimpedance effect in an integrated YIG/Pt-stripline system in the frequency range of 0.5 up to 2.0 GHz. Specifically, we explore the dependence of the dynamic magnetic behavior on the field orientation by analyzing beyond the traditional longitudinal magnetoimpedance effect of the transverse and perpendicular setups. We disclose here the strong dependence of the effective damping parameter on the field orientation, as well as verification of the very-low damping parameter values for the longitudinal and transverse configurations. We find considerable sensitivity results, bringing to light the facilities to integrate ferrimagnetic insulators in current and future technological applications.

This work presents a comprehensive review on gas sensors based on localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) phenomenon, including the theory of LSPR, the synthesis of nanoparticle-embedded oxide thin films, and strategies to enhance the sensitivity of these optical sensors, supported by simulations of the electromagnetic properties. The LSPR phenomenon is known to be responsible for the unique colour effects observed in the ancient Roman Lycurgus Cup and at the windows of the medieval cathedrals. In both cases, the optical effects result from the interaction of the visible light (scattering and absorption) with the conduction band electrons of noble metal nanoparticles (gold, silver, and gold–silver alloys). These nanoparticles are dispersed in a dielectric matrix with a relatively high refractive index in order to push the resonance to the visible spectral range. At the same time, they have to be located at the surface to make LSPR sensitive to changes in the local dielectric environment, the property that is very attractive for sensing applications. Hence, an overview of gas sensors is presented, including electronic-nose systems, followed by a description of the surface plasmons that arise in noble metal thin films and nanoparticles. Afterwards, metal oxides are explored as robust and sensitive materials to host nanoparticles, followed by preparation methods of nanocomposite plasmonic thin films with sustainable techniques. Finally, several optical properties simulation methods are described, and the optical LSPR sensitivity of gold nanoparticles with different shapes, sensing volumes, and surroundings is calculated using the discrete dipole approximation method.

Cellulosic fibre-based smart materials exhibiting multiple capabilities are getting tremendous attention due to their wide application areas. In this work, multifunctional flax fabrics with piezoresistive response were developed through the combined functionalization with silver (Ag) and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs). Biodegradable polyethylene glycol (PEG) was used to produce AgNPs, whereas ZnONPs were synthetized via a simple and low-cost method. Flax fabrics with and without NPs were characterized by Ground State Diffuse Reflectance (GSDR), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). After creating a conductive surface by flax functionalization with AgNPs, ZnONPs were synthetized onto these fabrics. The developed fibrous systems exhibited piezoresistive response and the sensor sensitivity increased with the use of higher ZnO precursor concentrations (0.4 M). Functionalized fabrics exhibited excellent antibacterial activity against Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria, higher hydrophobicity (WCA changed from 00 to >1000), UV radiation resistance, and wash durability. Overall, this work provides new insights regarding the bifunctionalization of flax fabrics with Ag/ZnO nanostructures and brings new findings about the combined effect of both NPs for the development of piezoresistive textile sensors with multifunctional properties.